Sealing strip



May 10, 1966 J. F. SHARP ET AL 3,25053 SEALING STRIP Filed Feb. 7, 1964 {MQ/. M

United States Patent() fornia Filed Feb. 7, 1964, Ser. No. 343,263 3 Claims. (Cl. 161-139) Our invention relates to seals and more particularly `to an improved sealing strip of matrix construction that is substantially free from undesirable elongation or stretch. ing along the longitudinal axis thereof.

By sealing strips, we mean the type of elongated sealing devices commonly extruded of primarily resilient plastic material such as those commonly employed around refrigerator doors, automobile doors, window frames, etc., -as moisture and draft barriers and weatherstrips, glazing beads, i.e., holding devices for glass panels, and the like. Resilience and yieldability is desirable in such devices, in all directions except along their longitudinal axes. A common fault with such st rips, however, is their tendency to stretch and increase in length upon installation with cold flow as the material ages, and due to ozone deterioration, resulting in hang-out or pullout of the strip from its recess. After an appreciable amount of this undesirable stretching occurs and resultant disengagement `of the seal, `the seal loses its effectiveness as a moisture barrier or weather seal and `must be replaced.

To prevent such stretching it has been contemplated in the past to insert a non-stretchable core in the body of sealing devices, using metal wire or rods therefor.

However, the use of wire as the core has a number of serious disadvantages including the sacrifice of at least some flexibility in the directions of the seal axis. Moreover, it has been found that as the seal material ages, undesirable stretching or elongation takes place despite the presence of the wire core; the seal material tending to slip relative to the wire core surface.

It is therefore a primary object of our invention to provide a yieldable, resilient elongated seal of matrix construction that will not appreciably elongate along its longitudinal axis.

It is another object of our present invention to provide an elongated seal device that will not elongate along its longitudinal axis but will remain as yieldable or flexible in all lateral directions as such devices without cores.

Briefly, the seal of our present invention comprises an elongated flexible seal of any desired cross-section or shape, having bonded along the longitudinal axis thereof a continuous filamentous substantially non-stretchable core, the seal material being bonded to and essentially intermingled with the core along the entire extent thereof.

A clearer understanding of the concept and character of our present invention will be had by reference to the detailed specification and appended drawings wherein:

FIGURE l is a diagrammatic partiallycutaway side 'elevational view of the seal of our present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view of the seal shown in FIGURE l taken along line's 2 2.

FIGURE 3 is a cross-sectional view of the seal of FIG- URES 1 and 2 employed as a glazing bead. p

.FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary cutaway view showing another form of the seal device of our present invention.

FIGURE 5 is a cross-sectional view of the seal shown in FIGURE 4.

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic fragmentary view in perspective cut away to expose the core of the sealing device shown in FIGURES 4 and 5.

FIGURE 7 is a magnified side elevational view in cross-section showing the core in the body of the seal of the present invention.

3,259,663 Patented May 10, 1966 ice In FIGURE l a typical elongated sealing device is shown, diagrammatically, the body 5 preferably being formed of natural or synthetic rubber or other plastic material such as vinyl or ythe like, molded around and bonded to a central continuous flilament core 6 that extends coaxially through the entire length thereof. Itis preferred to use, for example, a 3-ply cord of twisted .or woven glass yarn, the discrete filaments or whiskers of whichhave been etched `or chemically treated in the conventional manner for subsequent positive bonding in the plastic body.

One chemical pre-treatment that is well known in the art is known as the Volan Process in which the glass fibers for the core are processed with metallic salts and then resin coated for subsequent bonding with the seal body.

Furthermore, the body material, when molded around the core 6 and bonded thereto will extend into the interstices between the plies or strands of the yarn and the whiskers of the yarn will extend into the body material which intermingling effectively prevents any slippage between the body 5 and the core 6 substantially as shown in FIGURE 7 of the drawings.

It is found that, where the glass fibers or filaments are pretreated as prescribed above, discrete fibers or filaments become stiffened so that they will in effect tend to deploy angularly outwardly from the axis of the yarn body to radiate into the seal body material in the form of whiskers.

While we show, in the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, the use of glass filament yarn for the core, braided and interwoven cores of non-stretchable filaments or synthetic fibers characterized by interstices or perforations into which the seal material can co-mingle to interlock the seal body and core together may be satisfactory for the practice of our invention.

In FIGURE 2 a typical glazing bead configuration is shown in cross-section, being characterized by a pair of finger portions 8 and 9 extending arcuately on either side of a central web or neck 10 the lower end of which forms a generally pointed tip 11 intermediate the finger portions 8 and 9. At the opposite end of the neck 10 a generally T shaped anchor 13 is provided.

One of the finger portions 8 is further provided with an angularly extending flange 14, the function of which is described below.

In FIGURE 3 there is shown in cross-section a cornmon type of window frame or molding 20 mounted within a wall opening 21. The molding 20 has an opening or groove into which one edge of a window pane 25 is installed. It will be understood that the glazing bead having the cross-section shown is typical around all fou sides of the molding 20. I

The elongated glazing bead of FIGURES 1 and 2 is F inserted on one side of the window pane 25 with lthe finger portion 8 abutting the adjacent surface of the pane 25, the flange 14 bearing at its rearward tip against an intumed flange 26 provided on one side of the groove 22 of the molding 20. The intermediate tip 11 of the glazing bead neck 10 also abuts the surface of the pane 25 inwardly of finger portion 8 providing two resilient points of contact urging the pane 25 into firm contact with a series of ribs 27 provided on the opposite side of molding groove 22.

The finger portion 9 on the opposite side of neck 10 is forced into groove 22 between a shoulder 28 formed therein and interior wall 29 of the frame 20, the finger 9, neck 10 and anchor 13 compressed together and firmly wedged therein to hold the glazing bead securely in place.

It will be seen that, in addition to forming the main support for the pane 25 in molding 22, thermal stresses, shocks, etc., also are absorbed by the glazing bead 5,

3 along with the prevention of the intrusion of drafts, moisture, etc., around the molding and pane.

Our invention, in modified form, is similarly equally employable in curtain and panel Wall construction between the panels and muntin or mullion recesses.

It is to be understood that no claim is made to the Window frame or glazing bead configuration, this merely being shown herein for illustration purposes.

Another form our invention may take is shown in FIGURES 4, 5 and 6 wherein a brous ribbon or tape 30 composed of braided or woven glass fibers for example, is perforated along its entire length with spaced openings 31. The material of seal body 32 is molded or cast around the tape 30 and extends through the openings 31 to interlock the body material with the tape 30 and the whiskers of the core extend into the body material to prevent any elongation or stretching in the lengthwise direction.

In some modified forms, a non-stretchable plastic or vmetal foil (not shown) perforated in the same manner as previously described may be found to satisfy the concept of our invention.

`It will be appreciated that, although we have elected to illustrate our invention in the form of a glazing bead,

many other forms and modifications of the structure employing our invention will occur to those skilled in ,the art, such forms and modifications all being deemed to fall within the scope and spirit of our appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A substantially non-stretchable sealing device comprising:

(a) an elongated body molded of resilient plastic material,

(b) a substantially non-stretchable laterally flexible core in said body and coextensive therewith, said core being characterized by a means defining plurality of spaced openings therethrough along the entire length thereof, the material of said body extending through said openings to interlock said core and said body so that relative slippage therebetween is prevented, and means. extending radially outwardly from said core into said body. Y 2. A substantially non-stretchable sealing device according to claim 1 wherein said core (b) is a tape of interwoven glass filaments.

3. An improved sealing device of matrix construction comprising:

(la) an elongated body molded of resilient plastic material, (b) a substantially non-stretchable laterally flexible core in said body, and coextensive therewith, said core being characterized by a plurality of continuous glass filaments entwined around each other defining interstices between the filaments into whichthe material of said body extends to interlock with said core so that relative slippage therebetween is prevented, said filaments 'being pretreated to enhance bonding with the material of said body.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,533,490 4/1925 Wirfs 20-69 1,752,990 4/1930 Jeandheur 20-69 2,347,158 4/1944 Spraragen 20-69 2,601,512 6/1952 Gagnier 20-69 2,674,556 4/1954 Pahl et al. 2,787,033 4/ 1957 Peckham et al. 20-69 2,799,598 7/ 1957 Biefeld et al. 2,836,529 5/ 1958 Morris. 2,932,598 4/ 1960 Henning 161--175 3,138,834 6/ 1964 Shanok et al 20-69 FOREIGN PATENTS 402,705 12/ 1933 Great Britain.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Primary Examiner.

40 W. E. HEATON, Assistant Examiner. 

3. AN IMPROVED SEALING DEVICE OF MATRIX CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING: (A) AN ELONGATED BODY MOLDED OF RESILIETN PLASTIC MATERIAL, (B) A SUBSTANTIALLY NON-STRETCHABLE LATERALLY FLEXIBLE CORE IN SAID BODY, AND COEXTENSIVE THEREWITH, SAID CORE BEING CHARACTERIZED BY A PLURALITY OF CONTINUOUS GLASS FILAMENTS ENTWINED AROUND EACH OTHER DEFINING INTERSTICES BETWEEN THE FILAMENTS INTO WHICH THE MATERIAL OF SAID BODY EXTENDS TO INTERLOCK WITH SAID CORE SO THAT RELATIVE SLIPPAGE THEREBETWEEN IS PREVENTED, SAID FILAMETNS BEING PRETREATED TO ENHANCE BONDING WITH THE MATERIAL OF SAID BODY. 